Merthyr Express column

2nd Sept 10

Arts Forum
Anyone who’d like to comment on the arts, culture or media in Merthyr Tydfil can have their say online by posting a comment on the Arts, Culture and Media Forum’s blog website: artscelf.blogspot.com. The website currently has pictures taken from the Dance Pavillion at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale, with performances from a Valleys’ Dance project, plus 3Gs’ Kinetics and Nia Dance. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the pictures.

Cyfarthfa Exhibitions
A series of paintings of the Cyfarthfa iron works by local artist Linda Morgan will be showing throughout September in an exhibition titled “Cyfarthfa Iron and Steel”. And welcoming in a bright end to autumn perhaps; October brings an exhibition titled “Here Comes the Sun”, featuring the latest work from the Rhymney born artist, Neil Carroll.
Contact Cyfarthfa Castle Art Gallery and Museum for details on 01685 723112 or e-mail museum@merthyr.gov.uk.

Welsh Top 50

Plugged In, The Music Magazine for Wales, is searching for the top 50 albums by Welsh artists and needs as many views as possible. Maybe it’s by Lost Prophets or Stereophonics. Maybe Bullet For My Valentine or The Blackout do it for you, or does the classical tones of Katherine Jenkins or Only Men Aloud shoot them to the top of your list. Plugged In want as many opinions as possible to publish in their next issue, out in October. They hope to compile a Top 50 list and need submissions. E-mail your top five albums by different Welsh artists with a short sentence explaining why you love these albums so much, not forgetting to provide your name to Plugged in at editorial@pluggedinmagazine.co.uk. They’re not including Greatest Hits or compilations at this time, though they may make a nod towards them, only albums that you think epitomises a band’s career so far. For example, out of the four full albums that Funeral For A Friend has released it could be that Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation is your favourite or the more melodic Tales Don’t Tell Themselves. They want to know your favourite Manic Street Preachers album, Feeder, Catatonia, The Alarm, Cerys Matthews, The Storys, MAN, Shirley Bassey, Kids In Glass Houses, GLC, Attack! Attack! or even Sir Tom Jones. Any age and any genre, it doesn’t matter. It’s the album that if someone only had enough money to buy one album by that artist you would say it had to be that one, that’s their best album. Lists must be submitted before 18th September 2010. Regular updates of the chart positions will be posted on the Plugged In MySpace and mediawales blog sites. For further info visit www.pluggedinmagazine.co.uk or www.myspace.com/pluggedinmagazine.

Life Drawing
Artists and art students get the opportunity to work from life at Gartholwg Lifelong Learning Centre for a five week series of sessions starting on Wednesday, 22nd September, then every week until 20th October, at 7pm until 9pm. The cost of the whole series is £25, or £6.50 per class for a one off attendance. All participants must be aged sixteen or over and should bring their own art materials. For further information or to book your space, please contact 01443 219589 or email info@traceyrees.co.uk or visit http://www.campwsgartholwg.org.uk/.